James University
Department of Engineering
Structural Analysis
Homework 01
This is an individual assignment, consisting of five parts. You are encouraged to work with your
classmates to enhance your own learning.
NOTE – The primary objective of the homework assignments is not to get the right answer
alone. Instead, the objective is to clearly and neatly document your engineering work such
that others can understand and follow the logic of your work. This is particularly important
for you as you review your homework assignments as a study aid for future engineering
licensure exams (e.g., the Fundamentals of Engineering FE exam).
NOTE – The instructor is aware that solutions to select problems are available in the ‘back
of the textbook’ or can be found through various paid or free internet outlets. You should
challenge yourself in struggling through problem sets with support from classmates, TAs,
and the instructor before you resort to referring to published solutions. Those struggles and
eureka moments foster the deepest forms of learning.
NOTE – It is unethical and a violation of the JMU honor code to plagiarize another person’s
work and represent it as your own effort. Please credit others with whom you worked with
on problem sets.
A simplified rubric (see Table 1) will be used to assess the overall quality of homework
submissions. Work that is exemplary (i.e., is above-and-beyond) will receive 100% of possible
points. Work that minimally meets expectations (i.e., does the bare minimum) will receive 60% of
possible points within an assessment criterion.
Exemplary Work
Awarded
Points out of
10
Qualitative
Measures
10
Well organized; neat;
tidy. Steps are
explained. Unit
conversations are
shown and correct.
Rationalization or
commentary on final
answer. Easy to
follow work.
Correct final answer.
Table 1 Rubric for grading.
Exemplary with
Needs
Errors
Improvement
8
Well organized;
neat; tidy. Steps are
mostly explained.
Unit conversations
might be missing,
yet are correct.
Rationalization or
commentary on
final answer is
missing. Easy to
follow work.
Correct final answer
or rounding error.
6
Somewhat
organized. Steps
are not
explained. Units
are incorrect.
Rationalization
or commentary
on final answer
is missing.
Difficult to
follow work.
Correct or
incorrect final
answer.
1
Below
Expectations
Deficient,
Poor
No Marks
4
2
0
Not organized.
Steps are not
explained. Units
are incorrect. No
commentary on
final answer.
Work is
unsatisfactory or
illegible.
Incorrect
attempt at
solving the
problem (e.g.,
using the
wrong
principles or
equations).
No
submission.
Incorrect final
answer.
Incorrect final
answer.
Evidence of
plagiarism
or cheating
will result in
referral to
the Honor
Council at
JMU.
James University
Department of Engineering
Part 1) [10 points] Homework Formatting Expectations
Review the 1) YouTube video and 2) PDF file of the well and badly formatted hand-written
homework submissions. After doing so, include a hand-written statement in your HW01 that reads:
"I reviewed the example of the well and badly formatted homework submissions on Canvas, and I
understand that I need to professionally communicate my understanding of the problems with
neatly written and organized homework submissions. If not, then I expect to receive point
deductions for my homework submission for failing to clearly communicate my work."
NOTE – It is not necessary to hand-write the prompt for Part 1 in your HW01, but it is necessary
to handwrite the statement.
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James University
Department of Engineering
Part 2) [10 points] Syllabus Quiz
Review the class syllabus and answer the following questions in 1-2 sentences.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
(2 pts) What is the attendance policy for class?
(2 pts) What is the late work policy?
(2 pts) What class materials must I procure immediately?
(2 pts) How does the inclusivity statement apply to you – the student?
(2 pts) How does the instructor design the course using evidence-based practices?
NOTE – It is permissible to use a word processor for Part 2 in your HW01.
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James University
Department of Engineering
Part 3) [10 points] Technical Writing Expectations: Email Communication
Email will be used in conjunction with Canvas Announcements for communication. Emails are a
form of technical writing.
Go to the Civil Engineering Writing Project located at https://www.cewriting.org/. Navigate to
Materials  Materials for Courses and Self-Study  Language Unit 8: E-Mail in Professional
Practice. Read through the PDF document, specifically the Tips for language in e-mail messages
on Page 6. Answer the following questions.
a) (5 pts) How might you strive to write professional and polite emails? Provide an example.
b) (5 pts) How might you ensure enough context so a busy reader understands what you are
referring to? Provide an example.
NOTE – It is permissible to use a word processor for Part 3 in your HW01.
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James University
Department of Engineering
Part 4) [10 points] Selfie with an Object that Means Something to You
Engineering is often defined as a technical process whereby mathematics and science are applied
to solve complex, real-world problems. However, engineers are people, and the manifestation of
engineering (i.e., its outcomes) are used and consumed by people, meaning that engineering
practice and design is inherently a sociotechnical process.
One way of understanding what it means for engineering to be a sociotechnical process is by
appreciating how people imbue non-technical meaning or value to objects. For this assignment,
select a human-made object that is meaningful to you (e.g., a souvenir, a structure, a token, etc.)
… and take a selfie with it!
In your selfie, you must include a prominently displayed sheet of paper with information about the
date, time, and place where the photo was taken. Sorry – you can’t use that selfie from that last
vacation! The selfie should feature your face and an object that is of interest to you.
Photos are considered figures in technical writing, which must be professionally captioned. Go to
the Civil Engineering Writing Project located at https://www.cewriting.org/. Navigate to Materials
 Materials for Courses and Self-Study  Grammar Lesson 10: Figures and Tables. Read
through the content, specifically the Guidelines for figures on page 1.
In your selfie photo, include a well written figure caption. In your caption, make sure to
•
•
•
Categorize what type of structural members or structural elements your object has;
Explain and what types of loading your object can be subjected to; and
Explain how this object has non-technical meaning or value to you (e.g., it represents a
memory or an achievement, etc.).
Include a second figure with a professional caption of a simple sketch of how you might idealize
the structure.
NOTE – It is permissible to use a word processor for Part 4 in your HW01.
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James University
Department of Engineering
Part 5) Complete the following textbook problems from the Hibbeler 9th Edition textbook:
1.7 [10 points] The pre-cast concrete T-beam has the cross-section shown. Determine its weight
per foot of length if it is made from reinforced stone concrete and eight ¾ inch cold-formed steel
reinforcing rods.
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James University
Department of Engineering
2.23 [10 points] Determine the reactions at the supports A and C of the compound beam. Observe
that A is bolted to resist rotation in the x, y, and z directions; B is simply bolted (i.e., an internal
hinge); and C is simply seated atop a beam (i.e., a roller support).
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James University
Department of Engineering
2.26 [10 points] Determine the reactions at the truss supports A and B. Observe that A is a roller
support and B is a pin support. The distributed loading is caused by wind load forces (i.e., shear
load, lateral load, and uplift load).
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